Chapter 1: The Beginning

Chapter 1: The Beginning…

She was excited. And nervous. Which she felt more she couldn't say.

Anything to get out of Akron. Not really. Not just anything. The most amazing opportunity she'd had.

Is this really happening? Or will I wake up and realize it was only a dream?

Bella Grant checked her trunk again. Three months was a long time. What have I forgotten? She frowned. Don't be stupid. You can get anything you need. You aren't going to the Amazon rain forest.

After calling down to the front desk for bell service, she made one last tour of the suite to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything. Hearing the knock, she opened the door to find the bellman waiting in the hallway. She stepped back and admitted him to the suite. "It's just these," waving her hand to indicate her trunk, cosmetic case, and camera bag.

The bellman hesitated when he saw the trunk. Inwardly, Bella smiled. It was huge, a vintage Louis Vuitton steamer trunk that had once belonged to her grandfather. She jokingly referred to it as her 'big-ass Louis'. Fortunately, the bellman was too well-trained to complain and he managed to get her things on the cart.

Bella didn't wait, but went ahead and took the elevator to the lobby. Stopping at the desk, she returned her key and checked out. The bill was covered, of course, by the network. Her new employer.

She'd been in television for the last fifteen years, always in local news as a reporter in several places, but most recently as a morning show anchor in Akron. She'd hated Ohio, but had taken the job in order to add 'Anchor' to her resume. But this was different.

When she'd seen the posting in the trade magazine, she knew this was the opportunity she'd been waiting for. She'd be hosting a new travel show for TLC. According to the executive producer, Charlie, who'd hired her, she would have carte blanche to do what she wanted. He'd tell her where to go and the rest would be up to her. Fill the time. Make it interesting. Make it unique. Which was just what she intended to do.

The bellman loaded her things into the cab. She thanked him and gave him a generous tip before stepping into the back of the taxi. Her thoughts raced as they made their way through thick Manhattan traffic toward the airport. She didn't even know where her first assignment would take her. They would find out at the ticket counter.

They. She'd meet her photog at the airport. Her mind wandered there. She didn't even know his name. What would he be like? Young? Old? Experienced? She was sure Charlie wouldn't hire someone with no experience.

A small smile played across her face. It wouldn't suck too badly if he was attractive. Her social life was virtually nonexistent. Who had the time? Still…

Her thoughts came back to the present as the taxi pulled into the Departures lane of the airport. "Which airline, miss?" the driver asked. "Virgin Atlantic," she replied. He stopped at the appropriate curb. Skycaps jumped into motion unloading her bags. "I'd like them stored please. I need to go to the ticket counter," she told them. They handed Bella the luggage receipts and she walked into the terminal.